Dumfries House is a Palladian country house in the Scottish county of Ayrshire. The present house was built in the 1750s for William Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries, by John Adam and Robert Adam. In 2007, Prince Charles and his charity, The Prince's Foundation, bought Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, which sits on 2,000 acres and includes a spectacular 18th-century mansion and adventure playground. The mansion and estate are presently held by The Prince's Foundation, which preserves it as a visitor attraction, hospitality and wedding venue, and one of the few such mansions with much of its original 18th-century furniture still preserved, including specially commissioned Thomas Chippendale items. The house and grounds are both classified as important parts of Scottish history.
Image Copyrights: Julien.scavini (Wikimedia commons) and The Prince’s Foundation
A great place to go for free with the whole family is Dean Castle Country Park. Everyone might enjoy the 200-acre country park, which is located right in the middle of Kilmarnock. Visit the Rural Life Centre to discover more about sustainable living, take lovely forest walks, discover the estate's history, and identify local animals. Kids may let go on the adventure playground and visit the farm to get a closer look at beautiful farm animals.
Image Copyrights: Julien.scavini (Wikimedia commons); Visit Scotland
The Dick Institute, a 4 star attraction that first opened its doors in 1901, receives over 120,000 visitors annually. It includes the main library for East Ayrshire as well as the largest museum and gallery spaces in Ayrshire. The Dick Institute is definitely worth a visit since it offers a calendar of significant national exhibits, ongoing displays of the museum's varied holdings, and creative works by modern artists, filmmakers, and young people from the neighbourhood. The Glasgow Herald referred to it as "Scotland's greatest municipal gallery" due to the ambitious variety of temporary exhibits it frequently hosts as the sole Scottish location for important exhibitions.
Image Copyrights: Peter Mabon; East Ayrshire Leisure; www.ayrshirehistory.com/; www.visitsouthwestscotland.com
The poet Robert Burns and Jean Armour was married in Mauchline in 1788. The room they resided in has been maintained and is a part of the Burns House Museum in the town of Mauchline. The structure started to decay in the 18th and 19th centuries, and by 1915 it was unusable.
A Glasgow businessman named Charles Cowie saved the building, which was later refurbished to include a small museum and senior housing. The elderly were relocated to more suitable housing in 1958, and an appeal was made to once more repair the building. The Burns room was kept when it reopened as a contemporary museum in 1969, along with housing for a permanent keeper.
Image Copyrights: East Ayrshire Leisure; National Trust of Scotland; TripAdvisor; Visit Scotland; The Guardian
Scotland's first source to sea long distance trail, the River Ayr Way, was formally inaugurated in 2006 by Fred Macaulay. From the river's source in Glenbuck Loch to the sea at Ayr, it travels a distance of 44 miles following the river. It may be walked over a long weekend, unlike many other long distance routes, making it the perfect short break activity for tourists visiting Ayrshire. The path runs through one of the most fascinating river valleys in Southern Scotland. Parking is accessible at Glenbuck Heritage Park, where the walk begins at Glenbuck Loch.
The River Ayr Way passes through regions rich in Scottish history and home to numerous Covenanters, as well as Robert Burns, William Wallace, and John Loudoun Macadam. Along the walk, visitors may expect to witness a variety of animals, including otters, badgers, herons, hen harriers, and more.
Image Copyrights: East Ayrshire Leisure; Visit Scotland; https://gillianswalks.com/
Loch Doon is located around 3 miles east of Dalmellington and 18 miles east of Ayr. The car park, is about a mile east of Dalmellington, near to the A713 road to Castle Douglas and Dumfries. It is roughly two miles from here to Loch Doon Dam, and around seven miles to Loch Doon Castle on the loch's extreme southwest side. This is a popular stroll, bike ride, or drive up a tiny hill road. With the opening of the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory in October 2012, Loch Doon is quickly becoming a touristic magnet.
Image Copyrights: Brian Joyce (Wikimedia commons); PaulT (Gunther Tschuch) [Wikimedia commons]; www.walkhighlands.co.uk
1.7-kilometer Ness Glen Path between Dalmellington and Loch Doon. The road begins at Mossdale at the point where the burn meets the Muck Water. The little road (4 km) leads to Loch Doon through the Bellsbank Plantation. Bubbly Cairn's ruins may be found in the forests to the south. The road emerges from the woodland, providing views of the lochs and hills beyond. The road crosses the Gaw Glen burn and proceeds south to Loch Doon. There is a parking space, a tourist centre, and restrooms here. It's a popular place to start treks around the Loch. The River Doon runs through the dam and into the steep walls of Ness Glen.
Image Copyrights: https://ayrshireandarran.com/; https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/; Stephen Buchan
The first neighbourhood nature reserve in East Ayrshire is Catrine Voes. Water voles, otters, kingfishers, herons, and dipper live in the river, which also offers an excellent habitat for Atlantic salmon. The first of its type in Scotland, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire was recently named a UNESCO Biosphere because of the combination of its distinctive landscapes, animal habitats, and rich cultural legacy.
Image Copyrights: Howard; Gillian’s walks
We are strongly connected to environment, our conserved fauna, at TWF 2045. Water and mountains are inextricably related to us; they are all around us. Look no further whether you’re seeking for a romantic getaway or some time together as a family.
